The Impact Of Soviet Dissolution On Belarus

The dissolution of the USSR in 1991 had a profound impact on Belarus, which had been a founding member of the union since 1922. Belarus was one of the last republics to declare independence from the Soviet Union, doing so on 25 August 1991, and was a signatory to the Belovezha Accords, which formally dissolved the USSR and created the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in its place.

The fall of the Soviet Union had a significant impact on the global geopolitical climate, increasing US influence as a global power and creating an opportunity for corruption and crime in Russia. It also had a profound effect on the region's foreign trade, with the gross national product in Soviet countries falling by 20% between 1989 and 1991.

In Belarus, the collapse of the Soviet Union led to a shift in national identity, with a new generation of Belarusians embracing the country's ancient cultural roots and rich European heritage while rejecting the imperial narratives imposed by generations of Russian and Soviet dominance. This shift has complicated Belarus's relationship with neighbouring Russia, which has continued to support the Lukashenka regime with economic, security, diplomatic, and informational components.

The creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was created on 8 December 1991, when the leaders of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine met in Minsk and signed an agreement to form a new association to replace the crumbling Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The agreement, known as the Belovezha Accords, declared that the Soviet Union had "ceased to exist" and proclaimed the CIS in its place.

The CIS was formally established on 21 December 1991, when eight other former Soviet republics—Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan—joined the initial three. Georgia joined the CIS in 1993, bringing the total number of participating countries to 12. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania chose not to participate.

The CIS is a regional intergovernmental organisation that encourages cooperation in economic, political and military affairs. It has certain powers relating to the coordination of trade, finance, lawmaking, and security, including cross-border crime prevention. The CIS is headquartered in Minsk, Belarus.

The rise of the Belarusian mafia

The dissolution of the USSR in 1991 had a profound impact on Belarus, which had been a republic of the Soviet Union since 1922. The country was left in a state of political and economic flux, with a power vacuum that various actors sought to fill. This included the rise of mafia-style groups, which came to dominate certain criminal markets in the country.

The Belarusian mafia, also referred to as Bratva, is a collective term for various organised crime groups that emerged in the country during the 1990s. These groups were often led by former prison members, corrupt officials, business leaders, and people with shared ethnic ties or criminal experiences. The power vacuum left by the dissolution of the USSR, coupled with a flourishing black market, provided an ideal environment for these groups to gain influence and expand their activities.

One of the most prominent figures in the rise of the Belarusian mafia was President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1994. While he has been accused of authoritarian tendencies and human rights abuses, Lukashenko has defended his actions by pointing to the decrease in crime and economic stability that Belarus has enjoyed under his rule. Notably, he admitted to commissioning Belarusian secret service members to work as "death squads" targeting Russian mafia members in the country during the 1990s. This campaign was particularly effective, with organised crime in Belarus dropping dramatically and no spike in trials, although it also involved extrajudicial killings.

The Belarusian mafia's activities encompass a range of criminal markets, including drug trafficking, arms trafficking, human trafficking, extortion, and protection racketeering. They have also been implicated in financial crimes, such as money laundering, tax evasion, and embezzlement, often with the complicity of state actors and private sector actors allied with the regime. The groups are closely related to Russian organised crime groups and have international reach, with operations extending beyond Belarus to Europe, Asia, and North America.

While law enforcement agencies have suppressed some criminal networks in recent years, there remains a lack of information about the leadership and structure of the Belarusian mafia. The groups keep a low profile due to harsh punishments and extensive policing resources dedicated to combating organised crime. However, their activities continue to have a significant impact on Belarus and its neighbouring countries, contributing to instability and undermining the rule of law.

The adoption of a new flag

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to the re-emergence of the white-red-white flag, which was used by the Belarusian People's Republic in 1918 before Belarus became a Soviet Republic. This flag was used until 1995, when a referendum was held to adopt a new flag. The new flag was modelled on the 1951 flag used when Belarus was a Soviet Republic, with the removal of communist symbols and a reversal of colours in the ornament pattern.

The current flag of Belarus, introduced in 2012, is an adaptation of the 1995 flag. It features two horizontal stripes: a red upper stripe, inspired by the flag of the Soviet Union, and a green lower stripe. An additional vertical red-on-white traditional Belarusian decorative pattern is placed at the hoist (staff) end. The red is said to represent freedom and the sacrifice of the nation's forefathers, while the green represents life.

The adoption of the new flag has been controversial. The white-red-white flag continues to be used by opposition groups and has been a prominent symbol in protests against the government, such as those that took place in 2020-2021. The government of Belarus has restricted the display of this flag, claiming that it is linked to Nazi collaboration due to its use by Belarusian collaborators during World War II.

The marginalisation of the Belarusian language

During the Soviet era, the Belarusian language enjoyed a certain level of prominence, with four official languages recognised in the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR): Belarusian, Russian, Yiddish, and Polish. This recognition, however, did not translate into equal status for these languages in practice.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Belarusian language faced increasing marginalisation. Under the authoritarian rule of Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who came to power in 1994, the Russian language was favoured over Belarusian. This preference for Russian extended to various aspects of everyday life, including education. By 2020, almost 90% of Belarusian children attended Russian-language schools, illustrating the extent to which Belarusian had been sidelined.

The pushback against the Belarusian language also reflected a broader tension between the regime and a new generation of Belarusians who sought to embrace their country's ancient cultural roots and rich European heritage. This emerging national identity challenged the stagnant Soviet nostalgia perpetuated by Lukashenka, contributing to a growing resistance movement.

Despite the marginalisation of the Belarusian language, there have been efforts to revitalise it. Following the 2013-2014 Euromaidan Revolution in neighbouring Ukraine, for example, there was a surge of interest in Belarusian culture, including an increase in the number of people wearing folk-style embroidered fashions and enrolling in Belarusian language classes.

The status of the Belarusian language remains a contested issue in the country, with ongoing debates and struggles surrounding its role and recognition.

The emergence of a new Belarusian national identity

The dissolution of the USSR in 1991 had a profound impact on Belarus, and the emergence of a new Belarusian national identity has been a key feature of the post-Soviet era.

During the Soviet era, Belarus was known as the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR), and it was one of the founding members of the USSR. The BSSR was ruled by the Communist Party, and it embraced Soviet traditions, symbols, and narratives with enthusiasm. This continued even after the dissolution of the USSR, as the Belarusian President, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, revived many aspects of everyday Soviet life when he came to power in 1994.

However, beneath the surface, a new generation of Belarusians slowly emerged, who wanted to distance themselves from the stagnant Soviet nostalgia of the regime. This generation, influenced by Telegram, YouTube, low-cost airlines, and globalized pop culture, began to reject the imperial narratives imposed by generations of Russian and Soviet dominance. They embraced the country's ancient cultural roots and rich European heritage.

There have been several landmark events in the rise of this new and independent Belarusian national identity. One significant influence was the 2013-2014 Euromaidan Revolution in neighbouring Ukraine, which inspired many Belarusians to empathise with the Ukrainian struggle to rid itself of an authoritarian ruler and embrace a post-imperial national identity. Another symbolic moment was the 2019 reburial of Kastus Kalinouski, a 19th-century Belarusian national hero who led an uprising against czarist rule. The funeral revived discussions about the historical ties between Belarus and Lithuania and Poland through a shared Central European heritage.

The changing perceptions of Belarusian identity have been reflected by a diverse media landscape, with independent outlets offering access to uncensored Belarusian history. Additionally, the Belarusian cinema and contemporary arts scenes have played influential roles in shaping a new, non-Soviet identity.

The emergence of an independent Belarusian national identity has had significant political implications, both domestically and in Belarus' relationship with neighbouring Russia. Domestically, it has fuelled a pro-democracy protest movement, with young Belarusians playing a prominent role. In terms of foreign relations, the emergence of a new national identity has complicated Belarus' relationship with Russia, as Moscow struggles to reconcile itself with the changes taking place in a country that remains central to its vision of its vital national interests.

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